Enhanced low capacity socket

ABSTRACT

An enhanced low capacity socket assembly including ground means disposed therein, the ground means terminating in a series of point sources disposed in juxtaposition with respect to terminal pin contact means thereby to form close tolerance air dielectric capacitive means.

waited States Eatent i191 Dumas 1 ENHANCED LOW CAPACITY SOCKET [76} Inventor: Christ J. Dumas, 4600 S. Wisconsin,

Forest View, 111. 60402 [22] Filed: Aug. 4, 1972 21 Appl. No; 278,102

Related U.S. Application Data I [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 78,656, Oct. 7, 1970,

abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. 313/318, 313/325 [51] Int. Cl. H01j 5/48 [58] Field of Search 313/318, 325, 49; 317/101 CC [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,227,910 1/1966 Pittman 313/49 X 1 1 May 28, 1974 Klier et al.. 313/318 X Simovits 317/101 CC Primary Examiner-Archie R. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-Davis L. Willis Attorney, Agent, or FirmRoy E. Petherbridge; Robert L. Lindgren; Edward D. Gilhooly ABSTRACT An'enhanced low capacity socket assembly-including ground means disposed therein, the ground means terminating in a series of point sources disposed in juxtaposition with respect to terminal-pin contact means thereby to form close tolerance air dielectric capacitive means.

15 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEDIAY 28 I874 SHEET 1 0F 2 INVENTOR CHRIST J. DUMAS BY 3 U'WMJMW ATTORNEYS PATENTEBW I974 3.8135 70 INVENTOR CHRIST J. DUMAS AT TORNEYS 1 ENHANCED LOW CAPACITY SOCKET This is a continuation of application Serial No. 78,656 filed Oct. 7, 1970 and now abandoned.

The present invention is directed to improvements in ground means-for discharging excess unwanted surges of high voltage energy in electron tube'sockets, and more specifically, to sockets of this type adapted for use in connection with television picture tubes.

More specifically, the present invention is directed to enhanced low capacity tube socket assemblies especially adapted for receiving high voltage type cathode ray tubes of the type having a plurality of terminal pins thereon, which tube socket assemblies include therein ground means disposed adjacent the terminal pin contact means and terminating in a series of point sources disposed in juxtaposition with respect to the terminal pin contact means thereby to form a point-topoint or point-to-plane air dielectric spark gap between the ground means and terminal pin contact means.

The tube socket assembly of the present invention is generally of the type disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,251,016 and 3,377,616, and U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 793,507, each assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

In various circuits, such as critical tube circuits, integrated circuits, solid state or transistor circuits, and the like, capacitive loads assume great importance because they tend to load down and detune the high frequency peaking circuits, synchronizing circuitry and other circuits, and hence, relate to the system breakdown pattern. This phenomenon especially occurs during periods of arcing where there are surges of high voltage energy which enter the system through one means or other. For example, in a complex chassis which includes a complete circuit pattern, such as printed circuitry, when arcing occurs, the high voltage-energy will seek any possible means to flow through any one of the multiplicity of circuits in the system which forms a low impedence path to ground. Unless such surges of high voltage energy .are discharged to ground under controlled conditions, severe damage can be caused to the system.

In order to solve the afore-mentioned problem, various prior art socket assemblies have included ground means therein whereby in the event of an arcing phenomenon, the high voltage energy can be discharged to ground in a controlled manner. The tube socket assemblies described in the afore-mentioned patents and patent application, illustrate an arc ring which is disposed within the socket in juxtaposition with respect to the terminal pin contacts thereby to drain off any surges of high voltage inaugurated or draining through the pin terminals. Furthermore, it has been found very desirable to employ an air dielectric arc gap between the ground means and the terminal pin contact in order to have the lowest possible capacitance and to minimize the possibility of imposing a charge upon the surrounding dielectric media during an arcing phenomenon thereby to cause residual charges to be sustained over critical periods in the system. Such air dielectric arc gaps tend to have a low capacitance load and relatively quick recovery time.

However, even the air dielectric spark gaps which are utilized in such tube socket assemblies as presently exist have certain difficulties in certain applications. It has been found to be highly desirable to even further reduce the breakover arcing capacity of air dielectric capacitors in such tube socket assemblies, as well as to further reduce the recovery time of the air gap in order to prepare for repeated arcing phenomena. In accordance with the present invention, improved air dielectric low capacitance spark gaps have now been provided.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide animproved tube socket assembly including an air dielectric spark gaps having a-reduced break-over capacitance and a reduced recovery time per arcing phenomenon.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tube socket assembly of the typeset forth above including ground means disposed adjacent to the terminalpin contact means, thereby to form an arc gap between the terminal pin contact means and the ground means having av point-to-point relationship therebetween resulting in an improved air dielectric spark gap between the ground means and the terminal pin contact means.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an enhanced low capacity tube socket assembly of the type set forth above wherein the ground means comprises an arc ring having a plurality of finger members extending therefrom, each of the finger members terminating in a point source positioned in juxtaposition with respect to a respective terminal pin of a tube mounted on the tube socket assembly.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a tube socket assembly of the type set forth wherein each of the terminal pin contact means and each of the associated finger members of the arc ring terminate respectively in point sources disposed in juxtaposition with respect to each other.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of parts whereby the aboveoutlined additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will thus be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a top plan view of an arc ring positioned in juxtaposition with respect to a plurality of terminal pin of the arrows along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of another embodiment of an arc ring wherein the mass of the arc ring has been reduced;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section view taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of another embodiment of an arc ring in'accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-section view taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 8A is a side elevational view showing the arc ring as depicted in FIG. 8 disposed in juxtaposition with respect to an associated terminal pin contact;

FIG. 9 is a top plan partially phantom view of still another form of an arc ring in accordance with the present invention shown in juxtaposition with respect to a pair of terminal pin contacts;

FIG. 10 is a top plan partially phantom view of still another form of arc ring in accordance with the present invention, once again shown in juxtaposition with respect to a terminal pin contact;

Referring more particularly to FIG. 2 of the drawings, there is shown a tube socket assembly generally illustrated by the numeral having a dielectric body portion 21 shown in cut-away section. The body portion 21 includes a recess 22 disposed in one surface of the body portion 21 for purpose to be described more specifically hereinafter. The body portion 21 also includes a plurality of contact slots 23 in which are disposed terminal pin contact receptacles 24. Each termi nal pin contact receptacle is connected to an associated resistor 25 and connected to the resistor by means of a conductive connector portion 26.

The tube socket assembly 20 includes an arc ring which is positioned in the recess portion 22 thereof. The are ring 30 includes a plurality of finger members 31 extending inwardly therefrom which are adapted to be positioned adjacent to the terminal pin contact receptacles 24 or the conductive connector portion 26. The positioning of the arc ring 30 and the finger members 31 thereof, with respect to the associated terminal pin contact receptacles 24 or conductive connector portions 26 is more clearly shown in F IG. 1 of the drawings. It will be seen that each finger member 31 of the arc ring 30 has a point source 32 disposed in juxtaposition with respect to the terminal pin contact receptacle 24. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the terminal pin contact receptacle 24 is generally circular configuration, therefore, an arc gap is created between the point source 32 of the finger member 31 and a point on the terminal pin contact receptacle 24 established by a tangential line 33 drawn along the circumference of the terminal pin contact receptacle 24 and opposite the point source 32 of finger member 31 on are ring 30. In this manner, a point-to-point relationship is established between the point source 32 of finger member 31 on are ring 30 and the terminal pin contact receptacle 24.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate still another embodiment of an arc ring in relationship to a tube socket assembly. In FIG. 3, there is shown a tube socket assembly 35 having an arc ring 36 disposed therein, the arc ring 36 having a plurality of finger members 37 extending upwardly therefrom. The tube socket assembly 35 includes a contact slot 38 in which is disposed a terminal pin contact receptacle 39. Each of the finger members 37 includes a point source 40 which is disposed adjacent to the terminal pin contact receptacle 39. Once again, the terminal pin contact receptacle 39 is generally circular in configuration and therefore, a point-to-point relationship is established between the point source for the finger member 37 on the arc ring 36 and a point on the terminal pin contact receptacle 39 established by tangential line (not shown) drawn along the circumference of the terminal pin contact receptacle 39 as indicated hereinabove.

FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings illustrate still another embodiment of an arc ring which may be employed in connection with the present invention. There is shown an arc ring having an extension 46 disposed atone end thereof, which extension 46 is connected to ground. The arc ring 45 is formed as a flat planar piece havinga plurality of finger members 47 extending downwardly therefrom. Cut-out sections 48 between adjacent finger members' 47, are formed by cutting out sections of the are ring 45 during the manufacturing process. The finger members 47 are formed by turning down or bending a portion of the arc ring 45, once again during the manufacturing process. The purpose for having the cut-out sections 48 is to minimize the amount of material present in the arc ring 45. In this manner, the capacitance load of the ring is greatly minimized' thereby increasing the capacity efficiency of the arc ring when in use in a tube socket assembly.

.As shown in FIG. 6, the tube socket assembly includes a terminal pin contact receptacle 50 having a connector portion 51 attached to a resistor 52. The are ring 45 is disposed above the terminal pin contact receptacle 50 and the connector portion 51, and having the finger member 47 extending downwardly and above the connector portion 51. Onceagain, the finger member includes a point source 49 which isdisposed in juxtaposition with respect to the connector portion 51 thereby to establish a point-to-point relationship between the pointsource 49 on finger member 47 and a point established by a tangential line drawn along the circumference of the curved connector portion 51. Hence,in this embodiment, not only is there provided a point-to-point relationship between the finger member 47 and the connector portion 51, but the arc ring 45 is constructed in such a manner so as to minimize the amount of metallic material therein in order to further improve the capacity of the arc ring.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 8A illustrate still another embodiment of an arc ring to be used in connection with the present invention. There is shown in FIG. .7, an arc ring 53 formed of a generally circular wire-like material. The arc ring 53 includes a plurality of finger members 54 extending outwardly therefrom, the finger member 54 being formed as a part of the arc ring 53 during the manufacturing process. Each of the finger members 54 terminates in a rather fine edge which, in use, is disposed adjacent to a terminal pin contact receptacle as more clearly shown in FIG. 8A. The are ring 53 may be formed in any one of several ways depending upon where the arc ring will be disposed within the tube socket assembly with respect to the terminal pin contact receptacle. For example, in FIG. 7, each of the finger members 54 are formed in such a manner as to extend downwardly with respect to the arc ring thereby to be disposed in juxtaposition above each of the associated ones of the terminal pin contact receptacles.

In FIG. 8, the finger members 56 are shown to extend inwardly with respect to the outer circumference of the arc ring whereby the terminal pin contact receptacles would be disposed inwardly with respect to the outer circumference of the arc ring 55 the arc gap being formed between the edge 57 of finger member 56 and the terminal pin contact receptacle which would be disposed, or at least partially disposed, within the inner periphery of the arc ring 55. In FIG. 8A, the finger member 59 is shown to be formed in a manner extending outwardly with respect to the outer circumference of the arc ring 58 whereby the arc ring 58 would be positioned in the interior of the tube socket assembly and the terminal pin contact receptacle would be positioned more to the outer-most periphery of the corresponding tube socket assembly. In this manner, the arc ger member 59 and the correspondingterminal pin contact receptacle 70 which receptacle would be positioned adjacent to the outer periphery of the tube socket assembly.

Once again, the arc ring 53, 55 and 58 as shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 8A include less mass per unit length thereby minimizing the capacitance load of such an arc ring which ultimately results in greater efficiency in terms of grounding a surge of high voltage energy as well as improving the recovery time after each surge of high voltage energy.

In FIG. 9, there is shown still another embodiment of an arc ring which may be employed in connection with the present invention. In this embodiment, the arc ring 60 is, once again, formed of a generally circular wirelike material having an extension section 61 at one end thereof which is connected to ground-The arc ring 60 includes a plurality of loop sections 62 which serve the purpose and function of finger members as shown in previous embodiments herein. Each of the loop sections 62 has a clearly defined circular section 63 which, in use, is disposed adjacent to the terminal pin contact receptacle 64, which again is shown to be in a generally circular configuration. In this manner, an arc gap is formed between the curvedv section 63 of the loop member 62 and the terminal pin contact receptacle 64. The relationship between the curved section 63 of loop member 62 and the terminal pin contact receptacle 64 is, once again, a point-to-point relationship established by a point along the tangential line 65 drawn along the circumference of the terminal pin contact receptacle 64, and a tangential line 66 drawn along the circumference of the curved portion 63 of loop member 62. Hence, while the particular configuration and construction of the embodiment as shown in FIG. 9 is somewhat different than the previous embodiment described hereinabove, nevertheless, there is achieved-an improved air dielectric spark gap since the capacitance load of the material is minimized and because of the point-to-point arc gap relationship, the discharge breakover point and the recovery time of the capacitor is improved. a

The embodiment as shown in FIG. of the drawings is related to' the embodiment as shown and described in FIG. 9 above, and therefore, similar numbers refer to similar elements. In FIG. 10, there is shown an arc ring 65 which is once again formed ofa wire-like metal- Iic material. The are ring 65 includes a plurality of loop members 66 formed as part of the arc ring 65. Each loop member 66 includes a curved portion 67 which, in use, is disposed adjacent to an associated terminal pin contact receptacle 68. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, however, the arc ring 65 is constructed in such a manner as to be adapted for positioning toward the central or most interior portion of' the associated tube socket assembly, while the terminal pin contact receptacle 68 is positioned moreclosely to the outer periphery of the associated tube socket assembly. In the embodiment shown-in FIG. 9, the terminal pin contact receptacle 64 is positioned more interiorally in the tube socket assembly, while the arc ring 60 is positioned more toward the outer periphery of the tube socket assembly. In any event, the arc gap as established in the embodiment as shown in FIG. 10 is based upon a pointto-point relationship between the curved portion 67 of the loop member 66 and the terminal pin contact receptacle 68 all in the manner as described with respect to the embodiment in FIG. 9.

The various embodiments of arc, ring structures as disclosed hereinabove, are especially suitable for use in connection with solid state receivers and integrated circuit systems. Such devices find particular application in color monochrome television receivers having solid state or integrated circuit systems therein. The arc rings of the present invention when employed in connection with such solid state receivers and integrated circuit systems, have the following three advantages: 1) the capacitive load to active-video and Iikecircuits is reduced; 2) a much better frequency response for the video amplifier and like circuits is obtained; and 3) tube sockets employing arc rings of the construction as set forth hereinabove lead themselves to incorporation into television systems requiring higher pictureresolution.

The various embodiments of arc ring as disclosed herein, in terms of positioning within the tube socket, the size thereof and the shape thereof, are such that they pose the least amount of capacitive load to active pins of a tube inserted within the socket and the surrounding circuit. By way of example, assuming that an average system has a voltage breakdown of I400. volts, the capacitive load in presently existing tube socket assemblies including arc rings is between 3 and 12 picofarads, whereas arc rings constructed in accordance with the present invention and positioned in the tube socket assembly as disclosed herein develop a-capacity of between 0.75 and 3 picofarads. Hence the capacitive load is reduced by one quarter over presently existing systems.

Hence, according to the present invention, there has been provided improved ground means for a tube socket assembly having an air dielectric spark gap which results in a reduced breakover capacitance and a reduced recovery time per arcing phenomenon. The

present invention further provides an improved arc ring structure wherein a point-to-point relationship is established between the arc ring and the associated terminal pin contact receptacles thereby resultingin lower capacitive breakover and improved recovery time following each arcing phenomenon.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein,'and it is intended to cover in the appended claims'all such modifications as follows in the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

I. An enhancedlow capacity socket assembly especially adapted for receiving cathode ray tubes and the like having a plurality of terminal pins thereon comprising a planar insulation body having circumferentially spaced receptacles therein including terminal pin contacts for receiving the terminal pins of a tube and ground rneans disposed adjacent said terminal pin contacts, said ground means comprising an arc ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced legs, each of said legs including a point source disposed, in use, adjacent the corresponding terminal pin of the tube mounted on said insulation body thereby to form an air dielectric spark gap between said point source and said terminal pin contacts.

2. The socketassembly as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein the arc gap is arranged between a point source disposed on said are ring leg and a point source disposed on said terminal pin contact means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ground ring comprises a flat ring having a plurality of-planar protrusions circumferentially spaced about the inner portion of said ring.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said protrusions and said ground ring are coplanar.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ground ring comprises a flat ring having a plurality of planar protrusions circumferentially spaced about the outer portion of said ring.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said protrusions lie in a plane intersecting the plane of said ground ring.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said protrusions lie in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said ground ring.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ground ring comprises a flat planar ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced sections removed therefrom with the portions of said ring between said removed sections having a member extending outwardly from the planar surface of said ring.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ground ring is substantially circular in cross section with a plurality of circumferentially spaced protrusions extending inwardly from the inner portion thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said protru- 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said protrusions are formed as outwardly bent loop portions of said ground ring.

14. An enhanced low capacity socket assembly espe cially adapted for receiving cathode ray tubes and the like having a plurality of terminal pins thereon comprising a planar insulation bodyhaving circumferentially spaced receptacles therein for receiving the terminal pins of a tube, a ground ring disposed adjacent the terminal pins, said ground ring including a plurality of members extending outwardly therefrom and positioned in juxtaposition with respect to the terminal pins of a tube mounted on said insulation body, said members terminating at a point source whereby an air dielectric spark gap is provided between the terminal pin and the ground ring thereby to provide an enhanced spark gap for discharging excessive high voltage energy in order to prevent arcing within the tube socket assembly.

15. An enhanced low capacity socket assembly especially adapted for receiving high voltage cathode ray tubes and the like having a plurality of terminal pins thereon comprising a planar insulation body having circumferentially spaced receptacles therein for receiving the terminal pins of a tube mounted on said insulation body, said sockets being slightly enlarged adjacent the terminal pin disposed therein thereby to form an arc chamber, a ground ring disposed adjacent the terminal pins, said ground ring including a plurality of pins extending outwardly therefrom and positioned in said slightly enlarged portion of said sockets and said pins further terminating in a point source disposed in juxtaposition with respect to the terminal pins whereby an air dielectric spark gap is formed between the terminal pins and said ground ring thereby to provide an enhanced low capacity spark gap for discharging excessive high voltage energy in order to prevent arcing within the tube socket assembly. 

1. An enhanced low capacity socket assembly especially adapted for receiving cathode ray tubes and the like having a plurality of terminal pins thereon comprising a planar insulation body having circumferentially spaced receptacles therein including terminal pin contacts for receiving the terminal pins of a tube and ground means disposed adjacent said terminal pin contacts, said ground means comprising an arc ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced legs, each of said legs including a point source disposed, in use, adjacent the corresponding terminal pin of the tube mounted on said insulation body thereby to form an air dielectric spark gap between said point source and said terminal pin contacts.
 2. The socket assembly as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein the arc gap is arranged between a point source disposed on said arc ring leg and a point source disposed on said terminal pin contact means.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ground ring comprises a flat ring having a plurality of planar protrusions circumferentially spaced about the inner portion of said ring.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said protrusions and said ground ring are coplanar.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ground ring comprises a flat ring having a plurality of planar protrusions circumferentially spaced about the outer portion of said ring.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said protrusions lie in a plane intersecting the plane of said ground ring.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said protrusions lie in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said ground ring.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ground ring comprises a flat planar ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced sections removed therefrom with the portions of said ring between said removed sections having a member extending outwardly from the planar surface of said ring.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ground ring is substantially circular in cross section with a plurality of circumferentially spaced protrusions extending inwardly from the inner portion thereof.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said protrusions are formed as crimped portions of said ground ring.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said protrusions are found as inwardly bent loop portions of said ground ring.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ground ring is substantially circular in cross section with a plurality of circumferentially spaced protrusions extending outwardly from the outer portion thereof.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said protrusions are formed as outwardly bent loop portions of said ground ring.
 14. An enhanced low capacity socket assembly especially adapted for receiving cathode ray tubes and the like having a plurality of terminal pins thereon comprising a planar insulation body having circumferentially spaced receptacles therein for receiving the terminal pins of a tube, a ground ring disposed adjacent the terminal pins, said ground ring including a plurality of members extending outwardly therefrom and positioned in juxtaposition with respect to the terminal pins of a tube mounted on said insulation body, said members terminating at a point source whereby an air dielectric spark gap is provided between the terminal pin and the groUnd ring thereby to provide an enhanced spark gap for discharging excessive high voltage energy in order to prevent arcing within the tube socket assembly.
 15. An enhanced low capacity socket assembly especially adapted for receiving high voltage cathode ray tubes and the like having a plurality of terminal pins thereon comprising a planar insulation body having circumferentially spaced receptacles therein for receiving the terminal pins of a tube mounted on said insulation body, said sockets being slightly enlarged adjacent the terminal pin disposed therein thereby to form an arc chamber, a ground ring disposed adjacent the terminal pins, said ground ring including a plurality of pins extending outwardly therefrom and positioned in said slightly enlarged portion of said sockets and said pins further terminating in a point source disposed in juxtaposition with respect to the terminal pins whereby an air dielectric spark gap is formed between the terminal pins and said ground ring thereby to provide an enhanced low capacity spark gap for discharging excessive high voltage energy in order to prevent arcing within the tube socket assembly. 